A LISTED barn at a former care home could be converted into two flats.

The new residential units would be part of existing shared accommodation at Haulgh Cottage where a former tenant was arrested on suspicion of making explosives two years ago.

An application for two new self-contained flats at the house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Radcliffe Road was submitted to the council last month.

The plans include completely refurbishing the barn, which is currently used as a storage shed, with some external work to provide four new parking facilities within the courtyard.

The grade-II listed property was a care home until 2007 when it was blacklisted by Bolton Council following a report criticising the standard of care. It made headlines in 2017 when “bubbling chemicals” were discovered in the room of a man who had been evicted.

The building was listed by Historic England in 1974.

The application states: “We feel that the proposal is in keeping with similar developments within the area and its appearance will also be in keeping.”

A new application with an amended site plan should be submitted in the coming days.